Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium; a post-processing apparatus configured to perform post-processing on the recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus; a relay apparatus having a function of changing a transport speed of the recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus to a transport speed of the post-processing apparatus and transporting the recording medium to a subsequent stage; and a charge eliminating apparatus configured to perform charge elimination on the recording medium that is charged, by reducing a charge amount of the charged recording medium, and the charge eliminating apparatus is provided at a stage that is after the relay apparatus and before the post-processing apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a separation claw which is provided so as to be contactable on a surface of the fixing member and comes into contact with the surface of the fixing member to separate the recording medium from the fixing member at a fixing operation and a moving mechanism which moves the separation claw in a rotational axis direction of the fixing member. The moving mechanism includes a thrust gear having a protrusion on the lower surface of the thrust gear and a thrust cam disposed below the thrust gear having a hole on the upper surface into which the protrusion can be fitted when the fixing device is assembled.

Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes a main body, a printing engine to be disposed in the main body to form an image on a printing medium, a fixing apparatus including a fixing roller and a fixing belt disposed to face the fixing roller, and a jam prevention apparatus including a fixed frame disposed adjacent to the fixing apparatus, and a movable apparatus to be detachably fastened to the fixed frame through a plurality of adjusting screws, to adjust a gap with the fixing belt according to a fastening direction of the plurality of adjusting screws.

Abstract: A recording material cooling device includes a first unit provided with a first endless belt and a cooling member, a second unit provided with a second endless belt and a supporting member but not provided with a cooling member, a holding member and a fixing member. The holding member is fixed to a supporting frame and rotatably holds the supporting member in order to be rotated by a user. The fixing member fixes the supporting member to the holding member at any rotating position by the user.

Abstract: A fixing device heats and fixes a toner image formed on a sheet to the sheet. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a ground contact. The heat roller heats the toner image formed on the sheet. The ground contact grounds the heat roller. The ground contact includes a first electrical conductive member, a second electrical conductive member, and an electrical insulating member. The first electrical conductive member is electrically connected to the heat roller. The second electrical conductive member is positioned opposite the first electrical conductive member and grounds the heat roller. The electrical insulating member is interposed between the first electrical conductive member and the second electrical conductive member and insulates the first electrical conductive member and the second electrical conductive member from each other.

Abstract: This sheet separating device 50 includes: a release member 51 provided facing a rotating member (such as a fixing belt 43) arranged on a sheet transport path, and which extends toward the surface of the rotating member; a support member 54 that supports both ends of the release member 51; and a separating tip portion 71 arranged between the release member 51 and the rotating member. The separating tip portion 71 is provided so as to make contact with the rotating member, and is swingably attached to the support member 54.

Abstract: A recording material cooling device includes a belt unit including a rotatable endless belt, belt stretching rollers, and a belt cooling member; a rotatable member for forming a nip between itself and the belt in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt and for nipping and feeding a recording material in the nip; a rotating unit capable of rotating the belt unit between a contact position where the belt and the rotatable member are in contact with each other so as to form the nip and a separated position where the belt and the rotatable member are in separation from each other so as to release the nip; and a fan unit including a fan for cooling the cooling member by generating airflow passing through the cooling member, the fan unit being rotatable together with the belt unit.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.

Abstract: A recording material cooling device includes a first unit provided with a first endless belt and a cooling member, a second unit provided with a second endless belt and a supporting member but not provided with a cooling member, a holding member and a fixing member. The holding member is fixed to a supporting frame and rotatably holds the supporting member in order to be rotated by a user. The fixing member fixes the supporting member to the holding member at any rotating position by the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a first peel-off unit whose end portion is in contact with the image carrier and that peels off a recording medium from the image carrier, and a second peel-off unit whose end portion is not in contact with the image carrier and that peels off a recording medium from the image carrier. The second peel-off unit is disposed in such a way that the end portion thereof is located at a position that is the same as or upstream of a position of the end portion of the first peel-off unit in a rotation direction of the image carrier, and the second peel-off unit is movable so that the end portion thereof moves away from the image carrier.

Abstract: A release sheet includes a support member including a positioning portion formed on a part, in a first direction along a longitudinal direction of the fixing belt, of the support member and configured to position the support member to a holding portion, that holds the fixing belt, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a release member fixed with the support member and including a front end portion that faces a surface of the fixing belt through a gap. One member among the support member and the release member includes an opening which is oblong in the second direction more than the first direction in order to adjust a distance between the front end portion and the positioning portion in the second direction.

Abstract: An air blowing cooling mechanism includes a duct provided with an air blowing port, a fan configured to blow air toward the air blowing port, a first louver portion provided inside the duct, a shutter member, and a second louver portion provided downstream of the shutter member with respect to an air blowing direction of the fan. With respect to the air blowing direction, the fan, the first louver portion, the shutter member, the second louver portion and the rotatable heating member are disposed in a named order.

Abstract: A guide structure includes a contact member disposed downstream of a nipping unit in a transporting direction in which a recording medium is transported, the nipping unit nipping the recording medium between a heating roller, which heats an image formed on the recording medium that is transported, and a pressure roller, which presses the recording medium against the heating roller, the contact member protruding toward the recording medium and being rubbed against an image surface of the recording medium, on which the image is formed, while being in contact with the image surface over a region extending in a width direction of the recording medium and while the recording medium is nipped by the nipping portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating body, a pressurizing body, a separation claw, and a supporting member. The heating body heats a medium where a toner image is formed while the heating body rotates around a shaft. The pressurizing body forms a nip with the heating body and applies pressure to the medium that passes through the nip while the pressurizing body rotates around a shaft. The separation claw includes a protrusion that contacts the medium after having passed through the nip and separates the medium from the heating body. The supporting member supports the separation claw in state of causing the separation claw into contact with the heating body. The supporting member supports the separation claw while the supporting member causes the separation claw to slide in a direction separating from the heating body when the medium is brought into contact with the protrusion to press the protrusion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing roller, a rotating member, a heating means, a pressing mechanism, a separation member, a first biasing member and a moving mechanism. The pressing roller has a core metal and an elastic layer. The separation member includes a contact part. The first biasing member is configured to bias the separation member to be rotated in a direction in which the contact part is butted against the rotating member. The first biasing member includes a first end portion by which biasing force is acted on the separation member and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The moving mechanism is configured to move the second end portion of the first biasing member in a direction in which the biasing force is decreased, as the core metal approaches the rotating member owing to decrease in rigidity of the elastic layer of the pressing roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a separating claw, and a moving mechanism. The fixing member heats a toner image on a recording medium while rotating around an axis. The separating claw separates the recording medium from a surface of the fixing member. The moving mechanism reciprocates the separating claw in an axial direction and temporarily stops the separating claw at both ends of a moving range of the separating claw.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus including a recording head configured to perform printing on a medium that is transported in a transport direction, a guide portion disposed on a downstream side of the recording head in the transport direction and configured to guide the medium, and a first heating unit disposed between the recording head and the guide portion in the transport direction and configured to heat the medium. The guide portion includes a contact member configured to guide the medium by contacting the medium, a coupling portion coupled with the contact member, and a holding unit configured to hold the contact member via the coupling portion. Thermal conductivity of the coupling portion is lower than thermal conductivity of the holding unit.

Abstract: A fixing device is configured to fix a toner image to a sheet by heat and includes: a heating rotator; a pressurizing roller contacting with the heating rotator; a heater configured to heat the heating rotator such that the heat is transferred to the sheet passing through a contact portion between the heating rotator and the pressurizing roller; a plurality of separation claws configured to separate the sheet from the heating rotator such that the sheet passing through the contact portion is not caught in the heating rotator, the separation claws being provided opposite to the heating rotator; and an adjustor configured to adjust positions of the separation claws relative to the heating rotator such that distances between the separation claws and the heating rotator are equal to each other.

Abstract: Peeling member formed by a metal plate having a resin coating film thereon, the peeling member being capable of preventing adhesion of a paper right after fixing for a long period of time, and to provide a manufacturing method for the peeling member capable of forming a fine recessed portion on a surface of the resin coating film for preventing the adhesion of the paper. Peeling member 1 includes a peeling sheet 1a having a base material 2 having a plate shape, and a resin coating film 4 formed on at least a surface of the base material 2 at a paper passing side. The peeling member is formed to peel a paper from a fixing member of an electronic photographic device by arranging a distal end portion 1c to be contacted with or close to the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pad and a holder that holds the pad at a side opposite from a side on which the pad opposes a rotatable member. The holder includes a first portion provided at a position in which a recording material is separated from the rotatable member, with a gap being provided between the pad and the first portion with respect to a recording material feeding direction, and a second portion that holds the pad and extends in the recording material feeding direction. In addition, a leaf spring member urges the holder toward the rotatable member. Further, a recording material, carrying a toner image thereon, is nipped and fed through a nip, formed by sandwiching an endless belt between the rotatable member and the pad, and the toner image is fixed on the recording material in the nip.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a cover, and a separation member. The cover is movable between a closing position at which a conveyance path is formed and an opening position at which the conveyance path is exposed. The cover includes a recess. The separation member is movable between a contact position at which the separation member comes in contact with a face of the fixing member and a withdrawing position at which the separation member is separated from the fixing member. The separation member separates a medium from the face of the fixing member in a state in which the separation member is arranged at the contact position. A tip end part of the separation member enters an interior of the recess of the cover in a state in which the separation member is arranged at the withdrawing position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a blowing section, and a hard ware processor. The blowing section generates airflow toward the fixing nip, and the airflow is used for separating a sheet from the fixing member. The hardware processor performs a control of the blowing section so that airflow amounts of the blowing section toward the fixing nip are different in an axial direction of the fixing member and part of the airflow flowing from the blowing section toward a non-sheet-passing region of the fixing nip is directed in the moving direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: To provide a peeling member capable of suppressing a waving phenomenon of a peeling sheet, contacting linearly with a roller sufficiently, preventing deformation due to jamming of a paper and showing excellent paper peeling performance, and to provide a peeling device provided with the peeling member. The peeling member includes a peeling sheet 10 that peels a paper from a fixing roller 6 of an electronic photographic device. The peeling sheet 10 is formed of one metal plate, the peeling sheet 10 including a peeling portion 2 that forms the distal end portion, and a support portion 3 that is thicker than the peeling portion 2. The peeling portion 2 is arranged at one long side of the metal plate such that a paper passing surface 2b of the peeling portion 2 is formed as a flat surface continued to a surface of the support portion 3.

Abstract: A separator includes a base and a sheet. The base includes a first face to face a medium, a second face being opposite to the first face, and a third face being an end face in a longitudinal direction of the base. The sheet is disposed on a portion of each of the first and second faces that contacts or is adjacent to a rotator. The sheet has a length in a longitudinal direction thereof substantially equal to a length of the base in the longitudinal direction thereof. The sheet includes a projecting portion outboard from the length of the sheet in the longitudinal direction thereof. A combined length of the sheet and the projecting portion in the longitudinal direction of the sheet is greater than the length of the base in the longitudinal direction thereof. The projecting portion is attached to the second and third faces of the base.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating member configured to transport a sheet in a sheet transporting direction, a pressing member configured to form a nip with the rotating member, a peeling guide, and an adjusting device. The peeling guide is disposed on a downstream side of the rotating member in the sheet transporting direction, has a longitudinal side extending along an axial direction of the rotating member, and is configured to separate the sheet from the rotating member. The adjusting device is controlled to move the peeling guide to adjust a gap between an intermediate portion of the peeling guide and the rotating body by a greater amount than gaps between longitudinal ends of the peeling guide and the rotating body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a drive rotator, a driven rotator, a rotation detector, and circuitry. The drive rotator contacts and rotates the endless belt. The driven rotator contacts an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The rotation detector detects a rotational speed of the driven rotator. The circuitry is operatively connected to the rotation detector to control a rotational speed of the drive rotator based on the rotational speed of the driven rotator detected by the rotational detector. The circuitry changes the rotational speed of the drive rotator when a recording medium bearing a toner image is not conveyed over the endless belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, and a guide. The pressing rotator forms a fixing nip with the fixing rotator. The guide guides a recording medium to the fixing nip. The guide includes a guide surface that contacts a surface of the recording medium against a guide the recording medium. The guide surface is provided parallel to a line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt that is endless and rotatable in a rotation direction and a nip former stretching the fixing belt. A pressure rotator presses against the nip former via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separator is disposed downstream from the nip former in a recording medium conveyance direction and stretches the fixing belt. The separator is spaced apart from the pressure rotator via the fixing belt. A presser is interposed between an exit of the fixing nip and an upstream end of the separator in the rotation direction of the fixing belt. The presser comes into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt to press the fixing belt against the pressure rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming part that forms an image on a ribbon-like medium that is being transported; and a fixing part disposed downstream of the forming part in a medium transport direction, the fixing part including multiple fixing members, which are arranged in the transport direction and fix the image to the medium by applying heat and pressure to the medium. An upstream-downstream tension difference, in the medium transport direction, of the fixing member located on the most upstream side in the transport direction is greater than those of the other fixing members in the medium transport direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, a voltmeter to measure an input voltage from an external source, and a controller operatively connected to the fixing device and the voltmeter. The fixing device includes an endless, fixing rotator formed into a loop, a heater to heat the fixing rotator, a pressure pad disposed inside the loop, and a pressure rotator disposed opposite the pressure pad via the fixing rotator to press the fixing rotator against the pressure pad to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed. The controller controls a heating operation of the heater and a fixing operation of the fixing device to fix the toner image onto the recording medium, based on the input voltage measured by the voltmeter.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cap member mounted at an end portion of a fixing belt. The cap member has an outer cylindrical part that is fitted on an end portion of the fixing belt, an inner cylindrical part that is fitted into the end portion of the fixing belt, and a connection plate part that is positioned at an outer side of the axial direction from the end portion in the axial direction of the fixing belt and connects the inner cylindrical part and the outer cylindrical part. The fixing device further includes an electrode sheet that is provided between the inner cylindrical part and the fixing belt, and a plurality of vibrating bodies that are mounted at the electrode sheet so as to abut an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt and are vibrated by receiving power through the electrode sheet.

Abstract: A fixation module comprises a body, a heater roller, a pressure roller, a separation claw assembly and a detector. The heater roller and the pressure roller are rotatably connected to the body. The pressure roller and the heater roller transport a medium and perform a fixation process on the medium. The separation claw assembly connected to the body exerts a pressure toward the heater roller. When the medium passes through a clearance between the heater roller and the separation claw assembly, the medium pushes the separation claw assembly away from the heater roller. The detector detects a state where the separation claw assembly is pushed away from the heater roller by the medium. A printing apparatus for transferring and fixing toners onto the medium and comprising the fixation module, a drum, a development roller and a transfer roller is also provided.

Abstract: A separation device includes an endless belt, a rotary body, a separation supporter, and a transfer mechanism. The separation supporter presses against an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt downstream from an area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body in a recording medium conveyance direction to curve the endless belt toward an outer circumferential surface side of the endless belt at a greater curvature than a curvature of the endless belt at the area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body. The transfer mechanism switches the separation supporter between a first position and a second position farther from the area of contact between the endless belt and the rotary body than the first position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is heated, a pressure member, a fixed housing, a movable housing, a moving mechanism, a separating member, a regulating portion, and a link member. The link member is interposed between the movable housing and the separating member. In a pressurized state, the separating member turns about a support shaft in a direction where the separating member approaches to the fixing member by its own weight of the separating member. When a fixing pressure is switched from the pressurized state to a reduced pressure state, moving the movable housing in the direction where the movable housing separates from the fixed housing by the moving mechanism causes the separating member to turn about the support shaft via the link member in the direction where the separating member separates from the fixing member and causes the regulating portion to regulate turning of the separating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt member, a fixing member facing an outer peripheral surface of the belt member and forming a fixing nip portion between the belt member, and a separating pad portion disposed inside the belt member, including a pressing surface for pressing the fixing member at downstream of the fixing nip portion in a moving direction of the belt member and separating a recording material from the fixing member. The pressing surface of the separating pad portion curves so as to protrude toward the fixing member as approaching a central portion thereof in a rotation axis direction of the fixing member. An upstream end portion and a downstream end portion of the pressing surface curve so as to protrude toward an upstream side in the moving direction as they approach the central portion in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a deforming part, an approach guide and a guide adjusting part. The fixing member is rotatable and heated by a heat source. The pressuring member is rotatable and forms a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressuring member. The deforming part deforms the fixing nip. The approach guide guides a sheet to the fixing nip. The guide adjusting part moves the approach guide to a position corresponding to the fixing nip after deformation, as the deforming part deforms the fixing nip.

Abstract: A separator for separating a recording medium from a fixing rotator includes a separation body including a front end and a conveyance path side face. The front end is disposed in proximity to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The conveyance path side face faces a conveyance path where the recording medium is conveyed. At least one rotary separation aid projects beyond the conveyance path side face of the separation body toward the conveyance path. The rotary separation aid is rotated by the recording medium as the recording medium comes into contact with the rotary separation aid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that stores a developer containing a toner and develops an electrostatic charge image on a image holding member by the developer to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image holding member onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that performs an operation of heating and pressing twice or more to the toner image on the recording medium by at least one heating and pressing member which contacts with the toner image, wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value and a skewness in distribution of eccentricity B of the island portion is 0.75 to 0.95 and ?1.10 to ?0.50, respectively, and eccentricity B is defined in the specification.

Abstract: A sheet transport system comprising an endless carrier belt that has a predetermined stiffness and is arranged to carry the sheets towards an end of a conveyer path where the sheet is separated from the carrier belt by passing this belt around a separating member that has a predetermined curvature, wherein the carrier belt runs in parallel with an endless conveyer that has a larger stiffness than the carrier belt and, at the end of the conveyer path, has a smaller curvature than the separating member.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device, the fuser assembly including an integrated circuit chip having memory which has stored therein attribute data. The memory provides the attribute data for use in controlling the fuser assembly during fusing operations throughout the life of the fuser assembly. The attribute data includes a table of values corresponding to fusing temperatures for the fuser assembly, the fusing temperatures decreasing throughout the life of the fuser assembly to account for aging or wear of at least one component of the fuser assembly.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body. A pressing rotary body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A separator is disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction to separate the recording medium from one of the fixing rotary body and the pressing rotary body. The separator includes a separation plate including an upstream portion disposed opposite the fixing nip and at least one slot disposed downstream from the upstream portion in the recording medium conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a guide disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A pressure rotator side separator, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction, includes an opposed tip disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the pressure rotator and a separation-conveyance face that separates the recording medium from the pressure rotator. The opposed tip and the separation-conveyance face define a hypothetical circle having a curvature not smaller than 1/20 that intersects a guide face of the guide at an intersection at which a hypothetical tangent is tangent to the hypothetical circle. The hypothetical tangent and the guide face define a downstream intersection angle that is downstream from the hypothetical tangent in the recording medium conveyance direction and is greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: an image heating unit including a pair of rotatable members between which a sheet is nipped and fed while heating a toner image thereon; and a retracting unit retractable from the image heating unit. The retracting unit includes an air discharging portion configured to discharge air for separating the sheet from the rotatable member, and a feeding portion provided with a pair of rotatable members and configured to nip and feed therebetween the sheet heated by the image heating unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a unit that includes a fixing member and a pressure member contacting the fixing member to form a nip, and heats a medium with a toner image while conveying it with it nipped in the nip, fixing the toner image; a separating member that separates the medium from the fixing member; and a holder holding the separating member. The separating member includes: a separating guide portion that is disposed downstream of the nip in a conveying direction of the medium and faces the fixing member along a width direction of the fixing member, extends along the conveying direction, and separates the medium from the fixing member; and an extending portion that extends from a downstream edge in the conveying direction of the separating guide portion, and is bent with respect to the separating guide portion to separate from the medium downstream in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An improved laser print cartridge having a reduced defect rate. The improved laser print cartridge includes a printing assembly, a primary cleaning assembly, and a paper cleaning assembly. The printing assembly includes a drum, a primary charge roller, and a toner roller for applying toner to printer paper. The primary cleaning assembly includes a wiper blade for removing large debris particles from the drum into a large particle receiving volume. The paper cleaning assembly provides a wicking flange for removing smaller particles of debris not removed by the wiper blade. As such, the wicking flange is positioned in between the wiper blade and the primary charge roller and is mounted to the wiper blade. A cleaning portion of the wicking flange is pressed against the drum and either absorbs the debris or wipes the debris into a small particle receiving volume delineated by the drum, wicking flange, and wiper blade.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a roll sheet carrying an unfixed toner image is passed through a nip portion of a fixing portion including a fixing member heated to a predetermined temperature and a pressurizing member press-contacted with the fixing member so as to fix the toner image on the roll sheet. Then, the control portion performs winding prevention control of the roll sheet around the fixing member and the pressurizing member in accordance with a winding direction of the roll sheet and/or a roll radius of the remaining roll sheet.

Abstract: A separator is provided for a fixing device including a rotary fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a rotary pressure member pressed against the rotary fixing member to form a fixing nip portion for nipping the recording medium. The separator includes a separation plate and plate-shaped spacers. The separation plate is disposed downstream of the fixing nip portion in a medium feeding direction, with an edge portion of the separation plate facing an outer circumferential surface of the rotary fixing member or the rotary pressure member. The spacers are disposed between portions of the edge portion of the separation plate and the outer circumferential surface of the rotary fixing member or the rotary pressure member to surround the portions of the edge portion in a direction intersecting with an extending direction of the edge portion.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a current detection portion configured to detect a drive current of a pump unit and determines whether a valve unit is in an abnormal state corresponding to the output of the current detection portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heated roller member, a pressure member, a separation member, and a discharge state switching mechanism. The heated roller member is heated by heating means. The pressure member contacts with the heated roller member so as to form a fixing nip portion. The separation member is conductive and disposed with a predetermined gap to a surface of the heated roller member, so as to separate a recording medium after passing through the fixing nip portion from the heated roller member. The discharge state switching mechanism switches between a discharge permissive condition that permits discharge from the heated roller member to the separation member and a discharge restricted condition that restricts the discharge from the heated roller member to the separation member.

Abstract: A fuser including a fusing roller member configured to heat an unfixed toner image on a recording material, and a pressure roller member making pressure-contact with the fusing roller member, the fuser configured to fix the toner image by passing the recording material through a fusing nip between the fusing roller member and the pressure roller member, includes: an endless belt body constituting an outer peripheral portion of the fusing roller member or the pressure roller member, the endless belt body rotating in a predetermined circumferential path; a pressing member configured to press the fusing nip from the inside of the belt body; a separating member configured to separate the recording material from the belt body; and a tension member abutting on an inside of the belt body for tension, the tension member configured to maintain a gap between the belt body and the separating member.